Today Daily Devotional

ReFrame Ministries
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Today is a daily devotional that helps God's people refresh, refocus and renew their faith through Bible reading, reflection, and prayer.

  1. 5 HR AGO

    What Do You Want?

    What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? — James 4:1 Desires are thoughts. Sadly, they often begin with the words of our two-year-old selves: “I want that!” We can easily think, for example, “I want a car (or a house) like that.” Or, “I wanted the job he got.” I want, I want, I want.Not all of our desires are bad, but many are. If we want something that belongs to others or if we want something at the expense of others, that is typically wrong. Pleasure and enjoyment are great blessings, but if we seek such things only for selfish reasons, that can be wrong too. We can easily deceive ourselves into thinking, “I should have that . . . and why shouldn’t I?” Our desires can cause battles within us.How do we know if what we want is right or wrong? We can take it to God in prayer. And if we think, “I can’t possibly ask God for that,” it is probably a wrongful desire.We can also have lots of good desires, though. We may want our children to do well in school. We may want our friend’s marriage to be saved. We may want our church to grow. God is pleased when we ask for good things like these with the right motives.As we think about our desires, let’s focus on those that can bring about good for our neighbors, family, and friends. Let’s think about what can bring growth in God’s kingdom throughout the world. Things like these are in line with the desires of God’s heart. Lord, may you be our hearts’ desire. May we desire your good for ourselves and for others. May we share the joy of having life with you so that others may enjoy that too. Amen.

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    Sing!

    Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. — Psalm 96:1 Whenever my Aunt Rosemary was working in the kitchen, she would sing. I don’t remember whether the songs were popular tunes, hymns, or made-up melodies, but they were lovely. Whenever I went there to play with my cousins, I could count on hearing her beautiful voice.Singing is a great way to engage the mind with goodness (assuming the song doesn’t celebrate some kind of evil). This is why the Bible calls on us to sing to God and glorify him. The pleasant sounds of our voices give honor and glory to God as we sing biblical songs. Even if the songs we sing are not specifically Christian, our voices glorify our Creator just as the buzzes of bees and the songs of birds do.Not all of us have beautiful voices, but that doesn’t matter. A voice raised to heaven is a voice beautified in heaven.Singing is known to engage our minds at the deepest levels. Even in the last days of her life with Alzheimer’s disease, my mother-in-law could sing old hymns she had learned in her youth. She didn’t know where she was, but she still remembered the words and the tunes of those songs.Our thoughts can be put to good use in song. Composing music and lyrics in honor of the Lord who gives us life and blesses us with all good things, we can apply our whole selves in praise to God. We can lift up our hearts and voices and sing! “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, you heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” Amen.

  3. 2 DAYS AGO

    In God’s Image

    God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. — Genesis 1:27 What do you think of yourself?One person might say, “I’m a guy who made millions selling cars.” Or “I was the first woman in my family to go to college.” Or “I’m just a hard worker who wants to take care of my family.” We all have a variety of abilities and callings.Ultimately, though, it is essential for us to recognize that we are made in God’s image. This means that in many ways we can act, think, and create, as God does. We can also have a relationship of friendship with God our Creator himself.I have a friend who did development work in some of the poorest villages in Central America. The people there needed help with many things: agriculture, literacy, health, marriage, parenting, and so on. But this wise friend, Moises, did not go into a village and try to fix everyone’s problems.Instead he started a Bible study. And he began with this passage in Genesis. He shared with his listeners that they were all created in God’s image. He helped them to see that they could think and act creatively and have a life-changing relationship with God. And when people accepted this truth about themselves, they could begin to believe and see that they could bring changes into their lives and communities. They couldn’t change anything on their own, but they learned that in the power of God they could do all kinds of things! Lord God, help us to see that we are created in your image to carry out your work in this world. Help us to remember and to share this truth with others. Amen.

  4. 3 DAYS AGO

    Wisdom and Revelation

    [May] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. — Ephesians 1:17 True knowledge is a gift from God. When we know God for who he truly is, that is the most important and basic truth that anyone can accept.The apostle Paul prays that God will give his readers the spiritual powers of wisdom and revelation. Paul knows that God is eager to give Christians these gifts. When we have godly wisdom, we understand how God’s world works, and we understand what to do. When we receive the spiritual power of revelation (vision), we can see what lies ahead and be confident that the future is in God’s hands.Wisdom and revelation from God lead us to know God better. Our increasingly wise thoughts inform us that the power and love and goodness of God are without end. And through revelation the Spirit shows that no matter how much we meditate on God and his Word, we will never see to the end of his goodness, power, and love.Increasing knowledge of God sets us on the path toward holiness. This is not just a matter of accepting facts about God. We learn and experience that God is good and loving and just. And when we grow in the knowledge of God, we begin to offer him our reverence and obedience, which he truly deserves.Let’s pray daily for wisdom and revelation so that our knowledge of God may continually increase. O God, we need wisdom and revelation so that we may grow to know you better. May we know you as you truly are, and may we revere you as you deserve. Amen.

  5. 4 DAYS AGO

    Use the Armor of God

    Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. — Ephesians 6:11 Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against hostile spiritual powers. These powers are organized but unseen, a truly diabolical enemy. Led by Satan, these evil powers are always scheming against the Lord and his kingdom, trying to overthrow the rule of God in our lives and in this world.So what are our weapons in this warfare? They make up the armor of God, as Paul describes it in our text for today.  Put on the belt of truth. The beginning of evil is the acceptance of a lie. Followers of Christ who know and honor the truth are uniquely positioned to win against the deceitful spiritual powers of evil.Wear the breastplate of righteousness. Knowing and doing what is right is to live with integrity. It takes courage to do what is right, even when others may say it doesn’t matter.Be quick to share the gospel of peace. The powers of evil have already been beaten through Jesus’ finished work. This is good news that can help to convert enemies into allies.Carry the shield of faith. Faith is belief and trust in the living God and his promises, even though we cannot see him. Though it can seem that evil is winning, it has already lost to Christ, and in him we will win.Pray and follow God’s Word. God hears all our prayers, and he delights in giving us the full life he promises in his Word, which is the sword of the Spirit. God’s Word is the whole and final truth. Lord, we need your protection in the spiritual battles we face. Help us to put on the spiritual armor that you provide for us in Jesus. Amen.

  6. 5 DAYS AGO

    Our Minds Belong to God

    We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. — 2 Corinthians 10:5 Neuroscientists have discovered that we average about 6,000 thoughts per day. What a challenge it is to “take captive every thought” for Christ!There are strongholds of thoughts within us that resist submission to God. You probably have one or two of them. They are little parts of our character and thought patterns that are opposed to God. They have signs set up that say, “God is not needed here.” Perhaps it is the way you think about sex. Perhaps it is the way you view a neighbor or a relative. Perhaps it is the way you use the earth’s resources. Or something else.Yet there is no piece of our mind that does not belong to God. Every inch of it must surrender to God. How? First, “be still, and know that [the Lord is] God” (Psalm 46:10). Admit that the stronghold you have set up in your mind is challenging the right of the King of kings to rule your life. It opposes true knowledge of God. Second, confess this sin to God, and perhaps also to a trusted Christian friend. Third, with the help of the Holy Spirit, challenge the strongholds of falsehood with the true knowledge of God. You can do this by saying to yourself, “No, that isn’t right. I know that is not what God wants.” And, if necessary, tell yourself the same thing later when the devil responds with, “Did God really say . . . ?”It is a never-ending battle. But Christ has already won it. Holy Spirit, you live within us. Help us to recognize evil strongholds in our minds and to break them down with the power of your truth. Amen.

  7. 6 DAYS AGO

    Liar, Liar

    “When [the devil] lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” — John 8:44 A lie led to the beginning of human sin. Back in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve accepted Satan’s lie: “You will not certainly die. . . . You will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5).Ever since then, the voice of the liar, the father of lies, has carried on. Satan apparently can’t speak the truth; lying is his native language. Today Satan keeps telling us versions of the same lies he spoke in Eden: “God doesn’t really want the best for you.” “You will never have any fun if you follow the moral standard set by God.” “You really won’t suffer any consequences for doing that.”What lies is Satan telling you lately? “It really doesn’t matter if you watch some porn.” “Paying all your taxes would be crazy, given the way the government spends money.” “You deserve a new car, a new sex partner, a higher salary.”Pay attention to what you are thinking. Listening to the father of lies can be the first step into sinfulness.These lies include conspiracy theories that flood social media. Satan is in charge of those too. He is quite capable of using politicians and media personalities to promote his lies. The fact that others may agree with Satan is no excuse.Our thought world is a war zone. Listen to the one who has already won the war. Reject the one who can never be trusted. Father, we are surrounded by lies. We hear them at every turn. Help us to recognize and reject them. May we reject the father of lies too. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  8. 9 MAY

    Confess Your Sinful Thoughts

    Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. — James 5:16 None of us likes to confess sin. The first step in confession is to acknowledge that we have done something wrong. That doesn’t make us feel very good about ourselves. But we must confess our sins, even if they are only sinful thoughts.Confessing our sinful thoughts is not a natural practice. We might think that if we haven’t acted on sinful things we have thought about, why bother? We may tell ourselves that what we think doesn’t really matter, but it does. All seven of the deadly sins are based in our thoughts: envy, greed, gluttony, sloth, anger, lust, and pride. These deadly thoughts are the fertile soil from which sins of word and deed can sprout and grow.We tend to think that since they are only thoughts, they don’t need to be confessed. We might even think that we have our problem under control— or soon will. We would much rather manage our problems than confess our sins.But we need to confess our sinful thoughts, not just manage them. And if we are fortunate enough to have good Christian friends with whom we can confess our thoughts, we should talk with them. We need to admit that we cannot conquer sin on our own. We need the power of God’s Spirit to free us from sin and evil. If we wish to be like Christ, we need God’s Spirit to cleanse our thoughts. O God, confession is hard. We would rather be in charge of our thoughts. But help us to confess to you. Give us the courage and humility we need to confess our sins. Amen.

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About

Today is a daily devotional that helps God's people refresh, refocus and renew their faith through Bible reading, reflection, and prayer.

Information

  • Creator
    ReFrame Ministries
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 1977-2026 ReFrame Ministries
  • Show Website
    Today Daily Devotional

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